Brooklyn, Hants County, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Brooklyn is a Canadian
rural community located in western Hants County
, Nova Scotia
.
Originally called Nelegakumik by the Mi'kmaq Nation (meaning "broken snowshoes"), Brooklyn is unique in that its community post office is called Newport.
of Newport was established on 31 March 1761 'from the part of Falmouth east of the Pisiquid (now the Avon River
) which was known as East Falmouth.' Named by Charles Morris, chief surveyor, he wrote: 'I have proposed to have it named Newport from my Lord Newport
, a friend of Mr. Belcher's, and I believe that it will be agreeable to the people.' Jonathan Belcher
, had served under Belcher and was in 1761 serving as Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia.
Two years later, Morris reported:'The inhabitants have imported large quantities of cattle and have this year cut hay sufficient for supporting them. The river Pisiquid running through [this township] is navigable for sloops to all the settlements. The town [Avondale] is situated in the centre.'
Many early settlers to the township under British rule were New England Planters
from Newport, Rhode Island
, which probably explains why Morris felt that residents might be agreeable to Lord Newport's name being attached to the new township.
The former township of Newport incorporated all of modern-day Windsor, Nova Scotia
and rural communities east of the Avon River
. Although the township disappeared, many community names remained, including:
The centre of the community is located at the junction of Routes 14
and 215
. Brooklyn saw increased development during the late 1800s after the Midland Railway built a line across Hants County between Windsor and Truro
. Thus Brooklyn Station was created, although its post office would be called Newport (P.O.) and this was approved on 5 July 1951.
The community name was shortened from Brooklyn Station to simply Brooklyn on 30 August 1966 while still maintaining its post office name of Newport. This was subsequently confirmed on 22 July 1993 and in the Nova Scotia Civic Address Review on 14 November 2005. For the purposes of clarification, the provincial government's Geographic Names Board confirmed Newport as a post office within the community of Brooklyn on 10 November 2005.
Railway service was declining through Newport during the 1960s and the line would be subsequently abandoned by the Canadian Pacific Railway
in 1986.
West Hants Middle School is located in Newport
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rural community located in western Hants County
Hants County, Nova Scotia
Hants County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia which was the home of Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Alden Nowlan and Noel Doiron. The county of Hants was created June 17, 1781, and consisted of the townships of Windsor, Falmouth and Newport...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Originally called Nelegakumik by the Mi'kmaq Nation (meaning "broken snowshoes"), Brooklyn is unique in that its community post office is called Newport.
History
The townshipTownship
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
of Newport was established on 31 March 1761 'from the part of Falmouth east of the Pisiquid (now the Avon River
Avon River (Nova Scotia)
The Avon River is a small Canadian river in central Nova Scotia.A northerly flowing river, the Avon River flows rises on South Mountain, southwest of the town of Windsor. Its meander length is...
) which was known as East Falmouth.' Named by Charles Morris, chief surveyor, he wrote: 'I have proposed to have it named Newport from my Lord Newport
Robert Jocelyn, 1st Earl of Roden
Robert Jocelyn, 1st Earl of Roden was an Irish peer and politician.He was the only son of Robert Jocelyn, 1st Viscount Jocelyn and Baron Newport by his first wife Charlotte Anderson. He was M.P for Old Leighlin 1743-56 and Auditor-General of the Exchequer from 1750 until his death...
, a friend of Mr. Belcher's, and I believe that it will be agreeable to the people.' Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher (jurist)
Jonathan Belcher was an American lawyer, chief justice, and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, second son of Jonathan Belcher and Mary Partridge, he received an Bachelor of Arts degree in 1728 and an Master of Arts degree in 1731 from Harvard College...
, had served under Belcher and was in 1761 serving as Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia.
Two years later, Morris reported:'The inhabitants have imported large quantities of cattle and have this year cut hay sufficient for supporting them. The river Pisiquid running through [this township] is navigable for sloops to all the settlements. The town [Avondale] is situated in the centre.'
Many early settlers to the township under British rule were New England Planters
New England Planters
The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign of the Acadian Expulsion...
from Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, which probably explains why Morris felt that residents might be agreeable to Lord Newport's name being attached to the new township.
The former township of Newport incorporated all of modern-day Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
and rural communities east of the Avon River
Avon River (Nova Scotia)
The Avon River is a small Canadian river in central Nova Scotia.A northerly flowing river, the Avon River flows rises on South Mountain, southwest of the town of Windsor. Its meander length is...
. Although the township disappeared, many community names remained, including:
- Newport (now the community of Brooklyn)
- Newport CornerNRS Newport CornerNaval Radio Section Newport Corner is a Canadian Forces naval radio station located in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia.-History:NRS Newport Corner was established by the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 in the St...
- Newport StationNewport Station, Nova ScotiaNewport Station is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipal District of West Hants .-References:*...
The centre of the community is located at the junction of Routes 14
Nova Scotia Route 14
Trunk 14 is part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia's system of Trunk Highways. The route runs from Chester to Milford through the Windsor area, for a distance of 118 kilometres....
and 215
Nova Scotia Route 215
Route 215 is collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Hants County, connecting Shubenacadie at Trunk 2 with Newport Corner at Trunk 1.Portions of the road are included in the Glooscap Trail and the Fundy Shore Ecotour....
. Brooklyn saw increased development during the late 1800s after the Midland Railway built a line across Hants County between Windsor and Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
. Thus Brooklyn Station was created, although its post office would be called Newport (P.O.) and this was approved on 5 July 1951.
The community name was shortened from Brooklyn Station to simply Brooklyn on 30 August 1966 while still maintaining its post office name of Newport. This was subsequently confirmed on 22 July 1993 and in the Nova Scotia Civic Address Review on 14 November 2005. For the purposes of clarification, the provincial government's Geographic Names Board confirmed Newport as a post office within the community of Brooklyn on 10 November 2005.
Railway service was declining through Newport during the 1960s and the line would be subsequently abandoned by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
in 1986.
West Hants Middle School is located in Newport